J.D. Watts award winners announced

Nathan Dawson’s remarkable season headlined Australian harness racing’s J.D. Watts Awards.

Dawson continued the recent dominance of Queensland drivers on a national stage when finished 2023 with a staggering 413 wins, 142 clear of his nearest rival, WA champion Gary Hall Jr (271 wins).

Then followed young guns James Herbertson (Victoria) with 252 wins and NSW’s Cam Hart (225 wins).

Dawson built on his third placing in 2022 and second placing in 2021.

Dawson’s cousin, Pete McMullen, has won the past two national titles, but had to be content with fifth spot after 219 wins in 2023.

The top female was young WA star Deni Roberts, stable driver for the powerful Team Bond stable, with 201 wins.

Dawson became the fourth Queenslander to win the title, following McMullen, Shane Graham (2015) and Kevin Thomas (1981).

Tasmania’s Ben Yole, who spread his wings into Victoria in 2023, broke his own record for another runaway win as Australia’s leading trainer.

It was Yole’s third successive win and his 412 wins bettered his previous best of 393 in 2022.

Victoria’s Emma Stewart finished second to Yole in 2022 and again last year, while Queensland’s Grant Dixon was third. He also finished second to Yole in 2021.

The big mover of 2023 was Queensland’s Chantal Turpin, who rose from seventh in 2021 and ’22 to finish fourth.

The full 2023 standings can be found here:

Top 20 Drivers 2023

Top 20 Trainers 2023

From Harness Racing Australia